Senate debates

Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Notices

Presentation

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Select Committee on Agricultural and Related Industries into pricing and supply arrangements in the Australian and global fertiliser market be extended to 2 December 2008.

Senator Hanson-Young to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the important work being done by the international ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign and the tireless effort of the many non-government agencies, faith groups, community organisations and individuals working around the world to end poverty, and

(ii)

the impact that poverty has on child and maternal health;

(b)

recognises:

(i)

the 2008 United Nations report on the Millennium Development Goals that highlights maternal mortality decreased by less than 1 per cent between 1990 and 2005, far below the 5.5 per cent annual reduction needed,

(ii)

more than half of the 29 developing countries are not on track to achieve the child health goal or the maternal health goal, and

(iii)

each year, 34 000 mothers and more than 400 000 children die in our immediate region; and

(c)

calls on the Government to work with each of the key maternal health agencies in the region, to identify the core funding arrangements they require, to ensure that Australia is actively promoting the need to reduce the current child and maternal health mortality rate in developing countries.

Senator Bob Brown to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that the eighth round of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue is due to take place in October or November 2008;

(b)

recognises the Dalai Lama’s ‘middle way’ approach to autonomy for Tibet within China; and

(c)

appreciates the offer by the People’s Republic of China to host the dialogue and wishes both parties a successful breakthrough and outcome.

Senator Bob Brown to move on 11 November 2008:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to require a plebiscite on whether Australia should become a Republic. Plebiscite for an Australian Republic Bill 2008.

The bill amends the Archives Act 1983 to improve record-keeping arrangements across the Commonwealth.

Reasons for Urgency

The proposed amendments are required to enable the legislation to “catch up” with changes in administrative practice across the Commonwealth. The Bill gives effect to recommendations of the ALRC made 10 years ago. A Bill, in virtually identical terms, was previously introduced in September 2006 but did not proceed.

As the vast majority of records are now created and stored electronically it is highly desirable that these records are transferred as soon as possible to the care of the Archives before changes in technology render them inaccessible. The bill addresses this by requiring records to be transferred as soon as they are no longer required to be readily available by an agency, instead of after 25 years as currently required under the Act.

The bill amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the Radiocommunications Act 1992 to extend the deadline for commercial broadcasters to commence digital radio services in the mainland state capital cities by 6 months to 1 July 2009; to remove the requirement for commercial broadcasters to commence digital radio services in Hobart by the extended deadline of 1 July 2009; and to retain an option for community radio stations to take up shares in the joint venture companies managing the transmission of digital radio services.

Reasons for Urgency

Digital radio services are legislated to start in the six state capitals by not later than 1 January 2009. It has become apparent that the radio industry will have difficulty in meeting this deadline due to the limited availability of transmission equipment installers.

This bill provides for a more appropriate commencement timeframe, with commercial digital radio services in the mainland state capitals to start not later than 1 July 2009. The bill also removes the requirement for services to be extended to Hobart within the same timeframe due to its relatively small population size and fewer number of commercial radio stations. Broadcasters in Hobart will have the opportunity to commence digital radio services at the same time as other markets of comparable size, such as Geelong, Newcastle and Wollongong.

Passage of this bill in the Spring sittings is necessary as the current legislation provides limited scope for a start date to be determined at any point after 1 January 2009. Broadcasters and transmitter licence holders may also be subject to enforcement sanctions if they are unable to meet the January 2009 deadline.

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy)

This bill gives the force of law to the new tax protocol with South Africa.

Reasons for Urgency

The new tax protocol with South Africa will broadly update the taxation arrangements between Australia and South Africa. The new taxation arrangements will enhance Australia’s relationship with South Africa by further assisting trade and investment flows.

Further, passage in the 2008 Spring sittings of the South African protocol will allow the protocol to enter into force by the end of 2008. South Africa are in the process of changing their domestic laws for taxation of corporate profits. Completion of South Africa’s domestic tax changes is contingent on the renegotiation of a number of South Africa’s tax treaties including concluding a new tax protocol with Australia.

(Circulated by authority of the Treasurer)

Senator Bob Brown to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes ABC Radio National’s decision to axe the Religion Report, the Media Report and the Sports Factor;

this program broke the Peter Hollingworth scandal, has applied critical analysis of the Exclusive Brethren, Anglican, Catholic and Muslim religions amongst others and provided insightful commentary of various religions over many years; and

(c)

calls on the ABC management:

(i)

publicly to reveal all formal and informal criticisms made against this program over recent years, and